Calanque de Port-Miou
Port-Miou is a 1,400 m inlet between steep limestone cliffs, the only calanque in the commune of Cassis and the closest one to the town. Cassis stone was quarried here until 1981, and most of the inlet is now a mooring zone for pleasure boats.
WhatCalanque, CassisCalanques
WhenJune to October17° in Nov
Getting there On foot Bus Car Boat30 min walk-in
CostPublic shoreFree
AccessNo beach; not lifeguarded; pontoons closed to the public; boats moor on both shores; the hills close on red fire-risk days
- 14°J
- 13°F
- 13°M
- 14°A
- 17°M
- 20°J
- 22°J
- 23°A
- 21°S
- 19°O
- 17°N
- 15°D
Expect the sea at about 23 °C in August and 13 °C in February, going by the 1991 to 2020 averages. The swimming season runs from June to October.
Getting in
- Access
- The national park says the calanque is open all year and about 30 minutes on foot from Cassis town centre, with a shuttle from the Gorguettes park-and-ride; the path continues to Port-Pin and En-Vau. Port-Miou has around 30 temporary moorings managed by the harbour master in the Château de Port-Miou. The park warns that the Calanques coast is steep, currents can be unpredictable and the water is often cold because of underground springs; there is no beach and the place is not lifeguarded. The national park bars access to the pontoons. Boats moor along both shores of the inlet; the white buoys at Port-Miou are reserved for visiting craft, and the speed limit in the 300 m coastal strip is 5 knots. The park allows swimming from the rocks only outside the regeneration zones marked by posts and wires, and advises against it when the sea is rough. The surrounding hills close on fire-risk days; access to the massifs is regulated by prefectoral order from 1 June to 30 September. No smoking or fires in the national park; dogs on a lead.
- Parking
- Presqu'ile car park near the calanque. The national park advises against driving to the town centre and the peninsula car park and recommends the free Gorguettes park-and-ride with the shuttle.
- Public transport
- Shuttle 373 from the free Gorguettes park-and-ride stops at the Calanques stop (Avenue Notre-Dame and Avenue des Calanques), Easter to the end of June and in September at weekends, school holidays and public holidays, daily in July and August, 09:00 to 20:00 (town: 1.60 euros return). Train to Cassis station, then bus M01 to the town centre and about 30 minutes on foot.
- Also here
- Coastal walk
Cost and facilities
- Entry
- Free, public shore
- Official site
- calanques-parcnational.fr